THE Spanish midfielder can't wait to perform in front of 60,000 Celtic fans at Parkhead but insists Barcelona are intent on winning in Glasgow.

ANDRES INIESTA scored the winner in a World Cup Final in front of 85,000 fans in Johannesburg.

The Spanish magician also enthralled 100,000 punters in Vienna and Kiev while twice lifting the European Championship trophy.

But even Iniesta admits it will be special to walk out in front of 60,000 passionate Celtic supporters tonight at a packed Parkhead.

The Barcelona superstar revealed he is licking his lips at the prospect of a crackling Champions League occasion against Neil Lennon’s young guns in Glasgow’s East End.

At the age of 28, Iniesta has already witnessed just about everything there is to see in the world of football.

However, the midfield maestro admits his experiences in some of the game’s greatest venues still won’t prevent his breath being taken away when steps on to the park to face the Hoops.

Iniesta will be making his fourth appearance at Parkhead – and it seems to have lost none of its appeal as he spoke with relish about the evening ahead for the Catalan superstars.

He said: “The Celtic fans are very special and the club and players can be very proud of them.

“They are the best I have ever heard and I am sure playing in front of a crowd like that can make a big difference for the players.

“When there are 60,000 of them the noise will be deafening.

“That will help Celtic but we have experience of playing in intimidating stadiums and we are going there to win.”

Then, just a minute before half time, Iniesta levelled for the Catalan giants

Iniesta played a key role in breaking the hearts of those very same fans a fortnight ago with his display in Barcelona’s 2-1 triumph over Celtic in the Nou Camp.

Having trailed early in the match to Georgios Samaras’ deflected header the outstanding playmaker conjured a wonder goal on the stroke of half-time to level the game before Jordi Alba won it in stoppage time for the home side.

Iniesta said: “To lose is never a good feeling but to lose like they did is heartbreaking for the fans.

“But when you saw them at the final whistle you would have thought they had won the game and not lost it in the manner they did.”

Lennon’s troops may have lost the points in Catalunya on match day three but won their pride and also the respect of the Barcelona superstars for their battling effort.

It may not have been pretty but Iniesta accepts the Scottish champions had to try to grind out a result. And he says Barca’s struggles to break Celtic down on their own patch are a warning for this tie.

He said: “We did not underestimate them in the first game and after they gave us such a tight match we still won’t underestimate them.

“Only one team wanted to win that night and only one team played to win.

“Their goalkeeper (Fraser Forster) had a great game and it was very difficult for us to beat him.

“He is a young guy and if he keeps playing like that on the biggest stages then big things will lie ahead for him.

“He did have a great game but it was right that we won. At Barcelona we play the game in what we believe is the right way and thankfully that paid off – even if it was late on.”

Iniesta has been playing the game exactly the way it was meant to be played for the past 10 years, having celebrated a decade as a Barca top-team player last week.

For club, while Lionel Messi grabs most of the attention and headlines, Iniesta has been sensational.

And his partnership with Xavi in the middle of the park has long been considered the best in the business.

Lennon and Celtic were given a first-hand look at that two weeks ago when the pair pulled off their dreamy one-two in the box for Barca’s equaliser.

On the international stage Iniesta has also thrived and, having scored the World Cup winner against Holland in South Africa, followed that up with collecting the Player of the Tournament Award as Spain won their second successive Euros in Ukraine in the summer.

Frighteningly, he is now only reaching his peak with his 30th birthday still a while away and current manager Tito Vilanova is reaping the rewards.

Having climbed towards the pinnacle under previous boss Pep Guardiola, Iniesta has now assumed an even greater status under the new management and his performances have been inspired.

The summer departure of a club legend such as Guardiola could have derailed the Catalan outfit.

But three straight Champions League wins have supplemented a best start to a La Liga campaign for Barca which was confirmed with a ninth win from 10 outings last weekend with victory over Celta Vigo.

Iniesta said: “The fact we broke the record says a lot about the team. We’re eager to do a good job and the team will improve.

“I’m sure we’ll have some difficult moments this season but we have to take advantage of this situation.”

There is no team in football better at taking advantage of situations than Barca and Celtic boss Lennon doesn’t need to hand out warnings to his players as there are dogs on the street who are aware of the Spaniards’ class. The SPL champions face a mammoth task against the Catalan millionaires and Iniesta has confirmed there is no chance of his team taking their foot off the pedal.

With nine points in the bag, routine qualification for the last 16 is almost assured, but Vilanova wants the job completed as soon as possible.

Iniesta said: “A good result against Celtic would give us peace of mind ahead of the last two matches in the Champions League group stage

“A draw away in the Champions League is always considered a good result but we will go for the win in Glasgow.

“To play for a draw is not what this Barcelona team is about.

“I believe we play the best football in the world so we will play to win as usual.

“Celtic probably also need to win if they want to progress so it should be a good game for the fans.”